Implant insertion tool

Abstract

An insertion tool for placing a spinal implant in an intervertebral space includes a handle assembly, a jaw assembly having first and second jaw members movable with respect to each other, and a holding member adapted to hold and release an implant in response to a manipulation of the handle assembly. The holding member is configured to move longitudinally with respect to the jaw assembly upon manipulation of the handle assembly.

1. A surgical system comprising: an implant; a housing having a first bore extending therethrough, at least a portion of the first bore including threads; an elongate tubular member including threads formed thereon, the threads adapted for threadably engaging the threads of the first bore; a handle assembly disposed at a first end of the elongate tubular member, the handle assembly including a handle and a knob, the knob being rotatable relative to the elongate tubular member; a tube rotatably coupled to the knob; a hollow rod partially disposed in the elongate tubular member, the tube disposed within the hollow rod, the hollow rod including a distal portion configured and adapted for releasably engaging the implant, the distal portion of the hollow rod including opposed fingers that are repositionable between an open condition and a closed condition, the tube being axially repositionable relative to the hollow rod such that when a distal end of the tube engages the fingers of the hollow rod, continued distal movement of the tube urges the fingers towards the open condition such that the fingers engage the implant and retain the implant on the hollow rod; and an end effector coupled to the housing, the end effector including: a first jaw member, a second jaw member, the jaw members coupled to one another such that distal translation of the implant causes the first and second jaws to move between open and closed positions in a substantially parallel arrangement with respect to a longitudinal axis of the handle; a pivot mechanism comprising: a first bar movably coupled to the first and second jaw members; and a second bar movably coupled to the first and second jaw members, the second bar pivotally coupled to the first bar such that the first and second jaw members move apart in parallel; a first strut pivotally coupled to a proximal end of the first jaw member and the housing; and a second strut pivotally coupled to a proximal end of the second jaw member and the housing. 
     
     
       2. The surgical system of  claim 1 , wherein rotation of the handle in a first direction advances the hollow rod relative to the housing. 
     
     
       3. The surgical system of  claim 1 , further including visual indication of the position of the implant. 
     
     
       4. The surgical system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second jaw members are adapted for insertion between adjacent vertebrae when the first and second jaw members are in close cooperative alignment. 
     
     
       5. The surgical system of  claim 1 , wherein as the implant advances distally relative to the end effector, movement of the first and second jaws result in distraction of an intervertebral space between adjacent vertebrae. 
     
     
       6. The surgical system of  claim 1 , wherein the distal translation of the implant urges the first jaw member to move a first distance and the second jaw member to move a second distance, wherein the second distance is substantially equal to the first distance.